5: Progress in hemp pest management using biopesticides

Growing hemp in the United States continues to be challenging on many fronts, from finding reliable seed sources to marketing the end-use product.  Additionally, protecting the hemp crop from disease and arthropod pests  during the growing season presents further uncertainty, especially given the lack of federally registered pesticides for use on hemp.  In spite of these hurdles, enterprising growers are finding ways to produce an economically viable crop, and Certis USA remains committed to bringing unique, effective, OMRI-listed products that fit within the developing hemp IPM framework.
As of October 2020, Certis USA has seven active ingredients registered for use on hemp with four additional active ingredients pending EPA approval.  For outdoor grown hemp, corn earworm (Helicoverpa zea) is one of the key pest species due to direct feeding damage inflicted on developing flower buds used for CBD (cannabidiol) production.  Without timely control measures, feeding damage caused by H. zea can also create entry points for plant pathogens like Botrytis spp., the fungal organism responsible for botrytis bud rot.  For indoor grown hemp, mites and powdery mildew are key pests that are rarely concerning in outdoor grown hemp.  Here, we present 4 recent trials demonstrating the utility of Certis USA products for managing these emerging pests of hemp.